An intersection near Model Town which connects the city to the National Highway 24 witnesses massive jam as offenders have a free run in the absence of policemen. Mohit Sharma reports.

An intersection near Model Town which connects the city to the National Highway 24 witnesses massive jam as offenders have a free run in the absence of policemen.

Cycle and auto-rickshaws often stop in the middle of the road to ferry passengers, blocking movement for other vehicles. Commuters have to spend more than 30 minutes to cross about half-a-kilometre stretch at this gateway point.

"Autos occupy the entire road and leave no space for other vehicles," said Dinesh Kumar, a businessman.

Commuters say that most of the autos running in the city do not have permits and many of them are driven by minors.

"Auto drivers have no driving sense. Many a times minors drive these autos," said Aakriti Malik, an executive of a private firm.

To ease congestion on the main road, the traffic police have concretised the service lane but commuters say that auto drivers are using the service lane as their stand.

"Auto drivers are using the footpaths as an auto stand, they pick up and drop passengers on the footpath," Kritika Negi, a student.

The traffic police and the Noida authority had constructed underpasses to ensure smooth vehicular movement between Ghaziabad and Noida, but rules are never implemented. Commuters complain that auto drivers don't use underpasses.

"It is almost impossible to take a U-turn at the crossing. Either you have to travel longer or wait for the traffic to be less chaotic," said Shilpa Dhawan, an MNC employee.

Due to the increasing problem, the traffic police had created a U-turn with barricades but auto drivers have made their own path at this point.

"What's the point of having a national highway when you have to spend more time to reach your destinations? Nothing has been done to improve the situation here," said Palak Mehra, a daily commuter.

Meanwhile, the Noida authority has planned to construct an underpass with an investment of Rs 150 crore to ease traffic congestion in the area.